Matsui, Hawpe help rally Rockies past Astros

Matsui went 2-for-4 with two RBI, including a solo home run in
the seventh to tie the game at 5-5.

Houston starter Woody Williams, who entered the game 1-2 with a
14.90 ERA in seven career starts at Coors Field, hit Matt
Holliday with the first pitch following the home run by Matsui
and was ejected by plate umpire C.B. Bucknor.

"I guess after a home run that's what happens," Williams said.
"At that point it had gotten to the point where I was tired of
giving up runs and making sure I got the ball inside and it was
behind him."

"Am I surprised, no because after what happened last night it
seemed a little fishy coming after a home run. I'm not
surprised," Holliday said.

Garrett Atkins added a single and Hawpe then tripled to the gap
in right-center to score two runs. Yorvit Torrealba capped the
inning with an RBI single to make it 8-5.

"He threw a slider that was a nice pitch and I wasn't on it very
good," Hawpe said. "After seeing it I thought he might throw it
up there again and it happened to be in a nice spot."

"Big hit tonight, as big as any hits we had tonight," Rockies
manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's getting more confidence, seeing
more lefthanded pitching, and he's responded with some big
hits against some lefthanders in the past couple three weeks."

Lance Berkman pulled the Astros within 8-6 with a solo home run
off LaTroy Hawkins in the eighth.

Taylor Buchholz (3-3) pitched a perfect seventh inning to pick
up the win. Brian Fuentes allowed a homer to pinch hitter
Morgan Ensberg but still earned his 17th save in 19 chances.

Williams (2-8) allowed six runs and 10 hits in six-plus innings.
He is winless in his last nine starts against the Rockies.

"It's just for whatever reason the numbers aren't good. There's
no rhyme or reason why the numbers are so bad, it's just one of
those things I guess," Williams said.

Houston took an early lead with a three-run fourth. Colorado
starter Aaron Cook retired the first 10 Astros he faced before
Hunter Pence doubled to center field.

Pence scored on a single by Lance Berkman, and Mark Loretta and
Adam Everett added RBI singles in the frame to give the Astros a
3-1 lead.

NLAT COLORADO - SCORING UPDATESOLO HOME RUN BY LANCE BERKMAN (7) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 0 OUT IN THE 8TH OFF LATROY HAWKINS.CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 6, COLORADO 8DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.307, 0-FOR-2, BB)

NLAT COLORADO - SCORING UPDATESOLO HOME RUN BY KAZ MATSUI (1) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN THE 7TH OFF WOODY WILLIAMS.CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 5, COLORADO 5DUE UP FOR COLORADO: M HOLLIDAY (.349, 2-FOR-2, BB, RBI)